Improvement in devices for tapping mains



UNITED STATES PATENT CDEEICEo LEANDEE srAULniNe, 0E NoEroI.1,vIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR TAPPING MAINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 147,700, dated`February 17, 1874; application filed July 17, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEANDEN SPAULDING, of Norfolk, in the county ofNorfolk and State of Virginia, have inventedv an Improved Machine forTapping Mains; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full andexact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings forming part of this specification, in Which-q Figure l is aperspective viewlof the tap ping apparatus applied to a main. Fig. 2 isa transverse vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectionalelevation of the permanent itting and its operating-stem, and Fig. 4. isa sectional plan ofthe sprin g-ratehet for turning the tap.

Similar letters of reference in the accompan yin g drawings denote thesame parts.

'The object of this invention is to facilitate the tapping of gas,water, and steam pipes. To this end the invention consists in theconstruction and combination of parts, which I will nouT proceed toexplain.

In the accompanying drawing, A represents the pipe to be tapped.Preliminary to the operation, I place on the pipe a saddle, B,constructed for the purpose, the same having lugs I3' projecting onefrom each side, said lugs having holes in them, through which pass theends of a yoke, C, that goes around that part of the pipe not covered bythe saddle B, and is connected with said saddle by mea-ns of keys I),driven through slots in the ends of the yoke above thelugs B', thusfastening the saddle securely to the pipe, a packing having been placedbeneath the saddle to prevent leakage when the pipe is iirst tapped. Thesaddle B has a tapped sleeve, E, extending from its convex side, intowhich sleeve is screwed a tube, F, which has a tubular branch, F', atone side, closed 'by a removable plug, (lr. In this branch is adisk-valve, G1, which is of a size to close the tube F, and has a stem,(fz, extending outside the branch F', by which to Work said valve fromthe outside. H is the tap, which is put into the tube F and branch E,and is centered therein by guides O on the inside of the branch, asshown'in Fig. 2, and also by means of a stufng-box, H', screwed top ofthe upper plate K of the ratchet is pivoted a button, L, with a handle,L. Then this button is turned betsveen the ratchet and the collar J, thetap and set-screw are not eooperative; but, when it is desired to forcethe tap into the main, the button L is turned back,

and this allows the collar J to drop upon the. square head of the tap,as shown in Fig. 1, and, consequently, When the tap is turned theset-screw is turned with it, and follows it down, exerting a continualpressure upon it. The ratchet has a double pavvl, J1, which is pressedupon by a bolt, J 3, and spring, J 2, in the 11andle K', and hence isoperative to turn the tap in either direction.

When the main is to be tapped, the parts above described being arrangedas shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the tap is set in motion by means of thehandle K', and run down linto the main. After the main is tapped to theproper depth, the button L should be thrust between the ratchet andcollar J, so as to lift the latter from the tap. Then, by running up theset-screw, the yoke is loosened, and can be tipped to one Vside and thetap drawn up into the tube F. Then the valve G1 is to be turned acrossthe tube F, andthe pressure of the liquid flowing from the main throughthe hole just made therein keeps the valve closed.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination ofthe tube F, guide O, valve G1, scre\v-plug Cr, and stem G2, allconstructed, arranged, and operated as set forth.

2. The combination of the set-screw I' and tap H, provided with squareheads, ratchet K, collar J, and the adjustable button L, substantiall yas and for the purpose specified.

LEANDER SIAULDING. IVitnesses HENRY C! GUY, JNO. J WHITE.

